The little girl moved obediently towards the door, saying as she went:
"Thank you for the shilling, Gran. Oh, I do hope that sailor hat hasn't been sold!"
The sailor hat had not been sold, and the following morning Melina became its purchaser. She felt very happy and light-hearted as she carried it home in a paper bag. On reaching Jubilee Terrace she found Mrs. Jones cleaning the doorstep of her cottage, and she stopped to speak to her, really to allow her a peep at the new hat.
"It's very pretty and neat," Mrs. Jones remarked, after she had looked into the paper bag; "to my mind it's just what you want."
Melina nodded. "I've a new frock too," she said confidentially, "and this afternoon I'm going to tea with a friend of mine called Agnes Brown. If you look out of the window at three o'clock you'll see me start."
"Poor child," Mrs. Jones muttered to herself, when the little girl had left her, "it's a novelty for her to have anything new. How bright she looks! She has certainly improved very much of late!"
Punctually at three o'clock Melina started for Gladstone Street, which was nearly half an hour's walk from Jubilee Terrace. Mrs. Jones, from her parlour window, waved her hand and nodded to her; and at the corner of the terrace she met William Jones in company with a friend. She noticed that the two boys stared at her very hard, and William was surprised into remarking on her personal appearance.
"Why, Melina," he cried, "what a swell you look! Where are you off?"
The little girl coloured, but not with displeasure. "I'm going out to tea," was her response.
Her way took her past South View. The garden in front of the house was gay with spring flowers, and she lingered to admire a clump of golden daffodils which grew near the gate. She was moving on when she heard her name called behind her, and, looking back, saw the slim, upright figure of the little gentleman.